Restaurant & Catering Australia says it is “very encouraged” by the skills announcements by the Coalition over the past two days.
The announcement of the provision of vouchers to small business owners and their employees, of up to $1500 each to improve their skills, would be of great assistance in building the skills base in the industry.
The accommodation, café and restaurant industries have the highest proportion of trainees and apprentices of any industry and as a result have a huge commitment to training. R&CA said this commitment is best enhanced by lifting the skills of the existing workforce and the new Small Business Training Vouchers will be of great assistance in achieving that goal.
Under the Government’s proposal businesses with fewer than 20 employees would be able to apply for vouchers of up to $1500 to train employees. Under the plan 10,000 vouchers would be offered on the first year, followed by 15,000 the next year and then 25,000 a year for the next three years.
R&CA president Con Castrisos said that ‘building a bed rock of skills for the industry is vital if we are to continue to enhance productivity’. “Initiatives to bring in more skilled entrants to the industry will only be effective if existing workers are better trained and this initiative will help that to happen,” he said.
Castrisos also praised the Government’s announcement earlier this week of the establishment of 100 trade and technical colleges at a cost of $2.1bn, and the previous announcement of World Skills vouchers, that will be to any Australian aged 25 and over who does not have year 12 or equivalent or certificate level II or higher qualifications.
R&CA CEO John Hart said such initiative were vital for growth of the industry. “In an industry that employs
close to 300,000 Australians, the level of skills has a direct link to productivity—we are a labour intensive industry that needs to strive for a continuing high standard of service —a commitment to skills, such as that announced by the Coalition is vital if we are to continue grow and prosper.’